Cat(alytic) Burglers

This holiday season has seen an explosion in thefts of expensive, platinum-laced catalytic converters from parked cars, and authorities report that high-clearance sport utility vehicles are the targets of choice for thieves.

With a common socket wrench and 90 seconds, they leave drivers stuck with cars that sound like Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and facing repair bills topping $1,000.

Another thing to worry about. Apparently there’s also a healthy market in stealing and re-selling the rear seats of king cab trucks right now. A friend of my roommate’s Silverado got de-seated recently.